Strong field for Strokeplay Championship

Adam Hickling has not been content to rest on his laurels after winning last year’s Be Wiser Insurance-sponsored PGA in Hampshire Strokeplay Championship.

Instead, the PGA Professional at Stoneham, Southampton, is determined to keep improving and take his game up a level.

For this year’s event Hickling returns to the Army Golf Club on June 21 in a rich vein of form.

He currently tops The PGA in Hampshire’s Order of Merit, has notched up two wins on the circuit to date and had a trio of top three finishes.

Hickling said: “I am looking forward to returning to the course and trying to retain my title. It was a big moment for me last year, winning my first major.

“I have always felt I have the ability. But I know you need more than ability if you’re going to be successful and win tournaments.

“I am going along well at the moment and it is my intention to play in every PGA in Hampshire event if possible. Then I will see where we are at the end of the season.

“I would like to step up to some PGA South region events but before I do so, I need to be ready to compete. “

Be Wiser Insurance have signed a three-year deal with the PGA in Hampshire and director of marketing Andrew Dunkerley is looking forward to the 36-hole tournament.

He said: “We are delighted to be title sponsor of the Strokeplay Championship as part of our long-term commitment to the PGA in Hampshire.

“The entry list suggests an excellent competition is on the cards and we look forward to being title sponsor of such a high profile event.

“As a company, we are involved in a wide range of sporting events from the British Superbikes through to Championship football.

“Our support of the PGA in Hampshire is a good opportunity to enable more people to learn about Be Wiser Insurance.”

Among those taking part are Martin Adams, Order of Merit winner last year, and Jon Barnes who won it the year before.

James Ablett, the Virgin Atlantic PGA South Order of Merit winner in 2015, is in the field as are Elliot Groves, Mark Bell and Mark Treleaven, all of whom have made good starts to the season.

The PGA in Hampshire chairman Gary Stubbington and this years’ captain Philip Bryden will also be aiming to make an impression at the Aldershot course, as will Titleist PGA Rookie of the Year Ben Wilkinson.